My name is Sister Ellen Magallanes. This will be a record of my missionary experiences as I serve in the Australia Adelaide mission (Dec 2013 - Jun 2015). Come witness my journey, my joys and sorrows, my triumphs and tribulations and I pray you will leave inspired and you will see and feel the love of God as it works miracles in my life, and in the lives of all of God's children.

Monday, December 8, 2014

8 December 2014

Dear friends,

Recently, because it is Christmas I have been studying the document
"The Living Christ" and after I studied it I felt inspired to record
some of my own thoughts and feelings about the Saviour which are as follows:

I know that Christ lives. I know that he lived before, long before I was
born and that the holy scriptures and prophets bear witness of Him. I know he
lives today, He visited the prophet Joseph Smith with His Father and he
entreats us to follow Him, to use his atoning blood, to partake of his flesh
and blood in remembrance of Him.

I know he is perfect, He is my big brother and my example, my Lord, my
redeemer, the Messiah, The Christ.

I know that patterning my life after His teachings is he only true way
to happiness. I know that putting Him first in my life allows all other things
to fall into place.

I know He loves you all. He wants to save you all. I know this because I
have seen a glimpse of the love He has for all of his children and that I have
received because I have sincerely sought after it in prayer. I see beautiful
people whose lives are changed or that can be changed through the gospel.
Change is hard a lot of the time. But I think that is one of the miracles of the Atonement that I will forever be grateful, that change is possible. That
you and I can be lifted out of the Telestial worlds we live in and taste an
eternal happiness.

Jesus Christ means so much to me. It is such an honour, a sacred
privilege to wear His name on my chest, to represent Him.

And I know by the power of the Holy Ghost who reminds me when I doubt, that I am meant to be here. That you are who I am meant to serve. I know what I
gave up to be here - I gave up all I had and all I ever wanted, but I've found
while I am here that my all is a small price for His all - and I will forever be an unprofitable servant. But that's okay. It is true. As you lose your life
for his sake, you find it.

And you can find it too. You also can know Jesus is the Christ and say
it with as much surety as I can. The Holy Ghost is constantly whispering these
truths to you - are you recognizing them? Can you feel so now?

In the words of apostles and prophets, God be thanked for the matchless
gift of His divine son.

Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting and Missionary Preparation Camp
where a YSA from Adelaide stayed with us! The testimonies born were so
powerful. And during the Christmas fireside, we had a musical number where we
had to stand up in our seats, face the audience and sing to them I believe in
Christ the third verse and then the audience were invited to sing the fourth
verse with us (we couldn't all fit on the stand so a lot of us were just in the
normal pews) and as I was at the very back, when we faced each other I was in
the very front. And I looked out into the sea of people and I realised that I
loved them. I saw a former investigator who broke my heart when we dropped her
- we cried as we sang God be with yout ill we meet again - and there she was! I
saw other investigators in previous areas I had prayed and fasted so much for.
And I saw members, recent converts, rescued members, members who we have served
and who served us and I realised ...... I love Adelaide! I love my mission.
These people will always have a special place in my heart.

Running out of time so Sorry, maybe photos next week?

Love from the beautiful city of Adelaide and specifically from the
chilly suburbs of the Adelaide Hills,